Bird Cherry (Prunus padus)

Bird Cherry or Hackberry grows just about everywhere in Finland. This tree is commonly found near water bodies, at the edges of forests, around fields, and along roads. The flowers of the Bird Cherry bloom in early summer and have a strong scent. The leaves and bark of the tree have a bitter taste to them, which is why animals tend to leave Bird Cherries alone. During its 60–80-year lifetime, Bird Cherry grows into a large bush-like tree, sometimes as tall as 15 metres. The Bird Cherry enhances forest biodiversity, and its autumn leaves enrich the humus in the soil. Caterpillars of the Bird-Cherry Ermine moth can eat the leaves off an entire tree and cover the tree in a grey web. Luckily, the Bird Cherry can usually survive the destruction and will soon grow new leaves.